Athlete Of The Week: Daniel Colares

PLEASANT LAKE – Cape Cod Tech senior Daniel Colares scored twice last Thursday in a 3-1 win against Old Colony with two plays he spent the whole summer practicing in his home country, Brazil.

Tight situations, plays where a bunch of defenders are around — Colares worked at it. So when he put in the two goals, one in which he broke up the seam past the line and fired a strike across and another where he hung onto the ball inside Old Colony’s congested penalty box and drilled a shot to the middle of the net, it all felt already natural to him.

“I was just happy that I was able to connect them and actually get the goals,” Colares said.

The two scores — one in the first half, one in the second — were crucial in getting past Old Colony for the Crusaders’ fourth straight win, a streak that’s turned their overall season record right around from a 0-3-1 start.

Kelan Warren, Cape Tech's interim coach, said Colares’ performance “came down to him working really hard.”

“He uses size and speed to his advantage,” Warren said. “He ran through the ball. He wasn't scared to get physical, and when he had the opportunity, he made the right decision when he could.”

Colares also assisted on Cape Tech’s third score of the day, a cross to junior Rahvarion Smith. Warren said Smith, a captain, is a “workhorse.”

“He works hard for the ball, and he makes sure he doesn't leave any game without putting his 100 percent effort in, and most of the time that results in him making an impact to give us a result, like the goal he scored today,” Warren said.

The Crusaders will look to continue their win streak by going into every game like it’s their last one and not underestimating any teams, Colares said.

“No matter if it's the best team or the worst team, just keep playing our best and wanting it more than everybody else,” he said.